Improvement in fire-escapes



J. F. D AR. T T & J. W. P 0 S T.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Patente d May 22, 18 77.

IVENTORS WITNESSES ATTORNEY N. PETERS. PHOTO LIT J. FRANK DARTT AND JOHN W. POST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FlRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 191,118, dated May 22,1877; application filed May 15. 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J. FRANK DARTT and JOHN W. Pos'r, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompa-- nying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to portable fire-escapes; and the object is to provide a ready and easy means of escape in case of tire in hotels, theaters, and other similar places, that is simple in its construction, easily operated, not liable to get out of order, and can be carried in a very small valise or in the pocket, if desired, and can be furnished at a very small price.

The invention consists of a circular or other suitable shaped case, in which is arranged a metal strap or coiled spring, to the end of which a short chain and securing device is attached, by which it is secured in the windowsill or other suitable place, while to the opposite end of the case a ring with a snap-hook and sling, into the latter of which the person or goods intended to be lowered is secured and gradually lowered by an eccentric or pivoted lever, having a friction-roller in its end. which bears upon the strap, and regulates the velocity in descending. The strap also bears against another roller secured in the mouth of the case, and bears on the opposite side of the strap.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is the rear view of the same. Fig. 4 is a view of the device in position. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views of the same.

In the drawing, A represents a case, made of any suitable material, and, preferably, of round form, and having a central axis, a, to which a mutual strap or spring is secured.

The strap is wound up by a crank, which fits into the eye of the axis. To the opposite end of the strap B a ring, b, is secured, with which a snap-hook, b, engages; and this is attached to a short swivel-chain, 0, having on its other end an eye screw or bolt, 01, which is screwed into the window-sill or other suitable place.

- Instead of the eye-screw, a clamp with two jaws and a thumb-screw maybe used, or a screw-hook or a pair of clamping-tongs, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

In the mouth of case A is arranged a friction-roller, e, on one side, and on the opposite side a pivoted hand-lever, D, having in its outer end a small friction-roller, f. This lever acts as a brake as the strap B passes through between the rollers, and in descending the speed of descent can be regulated by the person. On the opposite end of case A are arranged lugs g, with a pin, h, to which another ring, E, is secured. To this ring a snap-hook, h, is attached, to which is conneeted an adjustable sling or belt, F, provided with a buckle, to vary the size to suit dilferexit-sized persons and articles which it is desired to let down. In this case, as described, the speed of descent of the person is operated by the person descending; but if it is desired to let down persons or parcels, &c.,

from above, the operation of the device is reversed-that is, the belt or'sling is attached to the ring b, which is connected to the strap B, and the swivel-chain and its snap-hook are attached to the ring E, and then secured by the eye-screw d, or equivalent device, and the descent is then regulated by the person above by means of the brake-lever.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire-escape, the case A, provided with a friction-roller, e, and a pivoted brakelever, D, having a friction-roller, f, arranged substantially as shown and herein specified.

2. The combination of the case A, provided with a friction-roller, e, and pivoted brakelever D, having a friction-roller, f, with a metal strap, B, chain 0, and eye-screw (1, arranged substantially as shown, and for the purpose described. 1

3. A portable fire-escape, consisting of the case A, friction-roller e, brake-lever D, friction-rollerf, with a metal strap, B, swivel chain 0, eye-screw 01, ring E, snap-hook h, and sling F, all constructed and arranged as shown, and for the purposes described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

J. FRANK DARTT.

JOHN W. POST. Witnesses:

THOMAS W. PITTMAN, J. R. EDWARDS, J. O. HAWLEY. 

